Geological Heritage and Geotourism in the Marbles region,
Portugal: The emergence of new economic activities
Luis LOPES 1,* Ruben MARTINS 2
University of Évora, ECT, Department of Geosciences & Geophysics Centre of Évora
1
University of Évora, ECT, Department of Geosciences
2
*
Corresponding Author: [email protected]
In recent years, Portugal, Alentejo and the marbles region in particular, have been promoted overseas
as a tourist destination of excellence. Climate, historic and cultural heritage, cuisine, crafts, hosting,
quality and quantity hotel facilities are arguments that support this promotion on the ground.
Until the 21st century there was no significant record of unemployment in the marble region. Now, the
based marble economy cannot create jobs enough to occupy the population and new proposals
business has been developed. A strong artisanal production of organic food, recovering old traditions
and making high quality products, handicraft in stone, wood, tin and pottery has been
growing. There's also a reuse of quarries and surrounding land, In either case, the marble is always
present.
This work presents examples of actions implemented in the region contributed to minimize the
negative impact left by the lower rate of human occupation in the ornamental stone sector. These
examples can be replicated in analogous regions all over the World where the need to preserve old
mining activity tools and techniques must strongly advised from now on. Initiatives such as the Route
Shades of Marble begin to be known in Portugal and abroad. The Marble Museum of Vila Viçosa,
located within the city perimeter, occupies a former quarry being ideal to in situ illustrate the
techniques used to dismantle the marble for more than two thousand years.
A five-star hotel applied local marble illustrating multiple combinations of textures, colors and patterns
that they permit. Abandoned quarries are opportunities for wildlife that found conditions good enough
to establish and develop. Nature observation tourism, in particular bird watching, it is also an
alternative to consider, especially because the region his already in the route that comprises places
where this activity has been established with a regular public.
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Tech
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http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.548.348